Chapter 5 (Part 9)

Looking at Anthus, who was crying and complaining, Rybid rubbed his goosebumps. Although Anthus was crying, his eyes weren’t, and the corners of his lips were raised.

“Are you…”

At that moment.

Bang.

The reception room door burst open with a loud noise as it hit the wall. The person who had forcefully entered was a very angry Yuliana.

“Hello, Your Holiness.”

After greeting Rybid, Yuliana looked at the tearful Anthus.

“Do you know why my lover is crying, Your Holiness?”

“I didn’t make him cry.”

“Are you saying my lover was crying and begging you on his own? I heard everything. That you threatened not to sell holy water to the Sirius Empire if we don’t break up!”

Yuliana’s question made Rybid realize he had fallen into Anthus’s trap.

“Lia… Did you hear me pleading with Your Holiness from outside…”

Anthus rubbed his eyes with his hands to wipe away the tears.

Yuliana sat next to Anthus and took out a handkerchief to gently wipe his eyes. But another tear fell from his red eyes and rolled down his cheek.

“Yan, are you okay? Don’t cry.”

Yuliana, who had been looking at Anthus warmly, turned her frowning face towards Rybid on the sofa.

“What is the reason for your visit to an unmarried young lady’s estate so early in the morning, Your Holiness?”

Before opening the door to the reception room, Yuliana’s mind had gone blank hearing Anthus’s tearful plea to Rybid. She was furious at Rybid for using holy water, a high-priced treatment available only from the Holy Kingdom, as a bait for their breakup. She was disappointed that such a person was the Pope of the Holy Kingdom.

“The reason I visited the Earl’s estate today is to escort you to the hunting competition.”

“Do you think I will be grateful and accept your escort if you come unannounced?”

“It’s fine if you don’t accept my escort. The bigger reason I came is that I wanted to see you from the morning.”

“I am the lover of Duke Anthus Rockbellion. You knew I had a lover yesterday, yet you ignored it. And please do not call me by a nickname, Your Holiness.”

“You will come to like me as you get to know me.”

Yuliana realized that Rybid, who only said what he wanted, was someone she couldn’t communicate with.

“Your Holiness, please don’t take my lover away. I can’t live without Lia. We cannot break up.”

Anthus said, sobbing once again. Aens, who was watching beside Rybid, was astounded by Anthus’s performance but couldn’t intervene and just stomped his feet in frustration.

“Yan! Don’t say such things!”

Yuliana glared sharply at Rybid and then checked Anthus’s complexion. She was very angry at Rybid for threatening her already sensitive lover. Her heart ached seeing Anthus crying, hurt.

“Stop crying, Yan.”

Anthus leaned on Yuliana’s shoulder. Yuliana stroked Anthus’s head and glared at Rybid as she spoke.

“Your Holiness, let me say this. If you ever again urge my lover to break up or make him cry like this, I won’t stand by idly as a Loengrin.”

“I’ve been completely outmaneuvered by the Duke…”

Rybid realized that Anthus’s sudden crying and eye-rubbing were a strategy to gain Yuliana’s sympathy.

“Just one word, Lia.”

“Do not call me by a nickname, Your Holiness!”

“Don’t trust Duke Rockbellion too much.”

“I don’t want to hear from someone who threatens and makes my lover cry. The only person who can escort me is my lover, the Duke Rockbellion. Please leave the estate now. Goodbye.”

Yuliana issued an order to leave to Rybid. Aens, standing beside Rybid, just pounded his chest in frustration.

“Lia, I’m sorry for showing such an ugly side. My heart… My heart… hurts too much…”

“Stop crying.”

“But Your Holiness said we would break up… That we would become strangers… And that if we don’t break up, the people of the Sirius Empire who need holy water won’t have it…”

Tears began to well up in Anthus’s eyes again.

Yuliana felt pain seeing him cry.

How much must Rybid have pressured Anthus in that short time to make him cry like this?

It was clear that Rybid had hurt Anthus.

“We are not going to become strangers. My promise to take responsibility for you was not empty words.”

“Sniff… Lia.”

“It’s okay. We will never break up.”

Yuliana comforted Anthus, who was crying on her shoulder.

Anthus, leaning on Yuliana’s shoulder, nodded repeatedly as he listened to her words, then slightly turned his head to look at Rybid and Aens. He gave them a sly smile that only they could see.

Yuliana, holding Anthus, couldn’t see his sly smile. Only Rybid and Aens saw Anthus’s sardonic smile.

And Anthus moved his lips silently so that only Rybid could see.

Goodbye. Woof. Woof.

“Duke Rockbellion! What did you just say?”

Rybid, who couldn’t contain his anger at Anthus’s blatant provocation, shouted.

“Did you just shout at my lover? If you’ve been ordered to leave, please leave immediately!”

Yuliana, unable to tolerate Rybid shouting at Anthus, raised her voice, forgetting that he was the Pope of the Holy Kingdom. She continued to comfort the sorrowful Anthus in her arms while glaring at Rybid.

Anthus did not miss this opportunity. He burrowed deeper into Yuliana’s embrace, trembling to suppress his laughter.

Even after Rybid left, Anthus’s tears did not stop.

“I’m upset.”

“Don’t be upset.”

“It’s upsetting that my Lia got angry because of the Pope…”

“I tried to hold it in… But I couldn’t suppress my anger.”

Anthus slightly lifted his head and nodded.

“I trust you, Lia. But who knew the word ‘lover’ could become such a sad word…”

Anthus burrowed back into Yuliana’s arms, speaking pitifully.

“If I were your fiancé, the Pope wouldn’t have disregarded me.”

Anthus hugged Yuliana with trembling arms, as if seeking reassurance.

“I’ll tell Father that I want to be engaged to you, Yan.”

“Lia, are you serious?”

“Yes, I mean it.”

Anthus covered his mouth with his hand, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Next time, if the Pope says anything, stand up to him confidently. Don’t get hurt and cry.”

Anthus wiped his eyes and smiled brightly.

“Even though the Pope said we would break up, that being lovers means nothing, and tried to make me anxious, I… will stay by your side until the end, Lia.”

“It’s upsetting. Your eyes are very swollen, Duke. This handsome face… Undine.”

[Yuli.]

“Please heal the Duke’s swollen eyes.”

[Got it.]

“Lia. And Undine, thank you.”

Anthus had sensed Yuliana’s presence approaching the reception room. When she got close to the door, he started crying and pleading to Rybid. Rybid, who reacted to his provocations, looked like a perfect prey to Anthus.

“Lia, please don’t abandon me.”

Anthus, with tearful eyes like a wounded fawn, burrowed deeply into Yuliana’s embrace once more.

“My uniform is a bit messy, so I’ll use the teleportation and change.”

“Yes. I’ll wait.”

* * *

The hunting competition on the second day of the Crown Prince’s birthday takes place on the mountain behind the Imperial Palace.

The winner of the day receives a grand gift from the Imperial family and can present the hunt they caught to someone they like. The recipient of the gift becomes the hero of the day and gains great honor.

“We’ve finally arrived.”

“Yes.”

People were bustling around, preparing for the hunting competition. The attendants guiding the arriving nobles seemed busy.

Cutting through the crowd, Louis, who had arrived early to escort Selenia, slowly approached Yuliana.

“Thank you for bringing my sister safely, Duke Rockbellion.”

“It’s a natural thing to do for my lover.”

It was a meeting between siblings who had recently had a fight.

“Lia, I’ll go check on the knights for a moment, so please stay here with Young Lord Louis.”

“Yes.”

Anthus entrusted Yuliana to Louis and headed to the tent with the Rockbellion family flag.

Left alone, an awkward atmosphere briefly passed between Yuliana and Louis, and Louis spoke with a small sigh and an apology.

“Lia, I’m sorry for speaking ill of your lover…”

“It’s okay.”

“I regret badmouthing the person you like. Can you forgive your foolish brother?”

Yuliana quickly responded to his words.

“I’m sorry too, for shouting at you to leave.”

“Is the Duke treating you well?”

“Yes. He is kind and gentle.”

Yuliana handed Louis a handkerchief she had prepared in the magic space.

“Good luck with the hunt, brother.”

“Thank you, Lia. Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

“Yes.”

Yuliana and Louis, having reconciled, smiled at each other.

“Lia, may I escort you?”

Anthus, who had approached unnoticed, extended his hand to Yuliana.

“Duke Rockbellion.”

Louis called Anthus respectfully.

“Yes, Young Lord Louis.”

“Please continue to take good care of my sister.”

“Of course. Shall we go, Lia?”

Anthus, with a gentle smile, held Yuliana’s hand and escorted her, attracting the attention of the knights participating in the hunting competition.